Microsoft

While livestreaming events and news is still something that is catching on, livestreaming games is as old as Twitch.tv (formerly Justin.tv) and has already matured to the point that it has become an industry in itself. And now it seems to be taking the next big step, moving away from being simply a spectator event to an interactive one. And it seems that Microsoft will be one of those heavily investing in this new direction, especially with its acquisition of interactive livestreaming service Beam.

There is an oft quoted adage called "Murphy's Law" (not to be confused with Moore's Law) that, simplified, goes like this: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Well, that proverbial thing may have just hit the fan, as far as Microsoft's operating system and devices are concerned. The "golden key", that is, a key to a hallowed backdoor, to Microsoft's Secure Boot implementation has just been leaked. It's a double-edged sword that allows power users to install operating systems and software on previously locked down devices but also gives unsavory characters the power to install malware such as rootkits and bootkits.

Microsoft is testing a trio of Surface All-in-One desktops as well as a new Surface Book design that could address the original notebook's most controversial feature, according to the latest leaks. Chatter of a Surface AIO broke back in July, with rumors of a new, large-screen PC developed by Microsoft's in-house team and intended for the living room.

The new Xbox One S is now on sale, and while most reviews are in agreement about Microsoft's refreshed console not being much of an upgrade over the original, it does come highly recommended for first-time Xbox One buyers. If you're in this situation, and were hoping to pick up the model with a 2TB hard drive once its availability improves, we have some bad news for you.

If you have ever played your favorite video game and wondered what it might be like to meet your favorite characters in the real world, Legendary and Microsoft HoloLens have teamed up to give you that ability. Legendary is a company that is big in the technology side of the movie industry and has teamed up with HoloLens to create augmented reality version of game characters that fans can interact with.

The last week has been a big one for Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system. The OS officially turned one year old, bringing an end to the free upgrade period for Windows 7 and 8 users, and shortly after Microsoft began rolling out the highly anticipated Anniversary Update, which introduces a number of new features and cross compatibility with the Xbox One. However, it seems Microsoft also quietly mentioned that it already has planned for two large updates to see release in 2017.

An emoji gun battle may be breaking out between Microsoft and Apple. As part of the Windows Anniversary Update that was released this week, Microsoft has adjusted the design of emoji on its platform, including a drastic change to the gun, changing it from a sci-fi-themed ray-gun to a more realistic revolver. Surprisingly, this comes only days after Apple rolled out a new beta for iOS 10 which now features the gun emoji depicted as a water pistol.

Skype is keeping the bot train rolling, today announcing five new bots that are coming to use from a variety of corporate partnerships. The new round up includes bots from the likes of Skyscanner and StubHub, even tossing a Spock Bot into the mix to coincide with the recent release of Star Trek: Beyond. If you've ever wanted to talk logic with the premiere Vulcan himself, now is your chance.

Microsoft has announced that all developers in the United States and Canada can now buy their own HoloLens Development Edition headsets (up to five units each). Says the company, interested buyers don’t have to submit an application; business customers can also get their hands on the device. The announcement coincides with the introduction of the Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite, a set of features tailored specifically to business users.

If you came out of Microsoft's free upgrade promotion with a new copy of Windows 10 installed on your computer, you might like to know that the Anniversary Update is now available. Windows 10 users can wait for the update to automatically roll out to their machines, but the problem with waiting for the automatic update is that Microsoft is pushing it out in waves, meaning you may not get it right away.

This is definitely a busy week for Microsoft, good or bad. It has just recently started rolling out the promised Summer update for the Xbox One ahead of the Anniversary Update for Windows 10. But while PC users are still waiting for that to take place, gamers, and perhaps those who want to give gifts to certain gamers, have something more to look forward to. Yes, the Xbox One S is finally here, at least in the US, and can now be ordered direct from Microsoft, along with the new Xbox Wireless Controller.

Missed the free gravy train of Windows 10 updates? Feeling some regret for not grabbing the opportunity while it lasted? Don't worry. Apparently, there's a sort of "loophole" that you can use to still get the Windows 10 update for free, depending on your conscience. Microsoft has revealed that it will continue to offer the update for free for owners that use its Assistive Technologies. As luck would have it, Microsoft isn't checking whether you really do use, let alone need, those assistive features anyway.